Thill-coupling.



n ..634,549. Patent-5d Oct. l0, I899.

' c. c. BRADLEY;

THILL COUPLING.

(Application filed Apr. 24, 1899.)

(Ila Model.)

UNITED STATES I CHRISTOPHER o. BRADLEY,

P TENT OFFICE.

OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,549, dated October 10, 1899.

Application filed April 24, 1899 Serial No. 714,235. (No model.)

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER (1. BRAD- LEI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thill=Gouplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of thill=' couplings which comprise a divided draft-eye on the vehicle and a wrist or knuckle on the thill or pole iron, which wrist or knuckle is adapted to be seated in the draft-eye and is held therein by a fastening device applied to the latter and so constructed that the draft-eye can be quickly opned or closed for shifting from a pole to thills, or vice versa. When a divided packing or washer of leather or similar material is used on the wrist or knuckle, it is liable to drop oil? in removing the latter from the draft-eye. Heretofore the packing has been retained on the wrist or knuckle by a fine wire, which is passed through openings near the longitudinal meeting edges of the divided packing and which has its ends twisted together.

The object of this invention is to provide the packing with a simpler and more satisfactory fastening device.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal'section of a thill-coup: ling provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section in line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the wristof the thill-iron with the packing applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a detached Side view of the springclasp by which the packing is held on its wrist. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modi fied construction of the packing.

Like letters Ofreference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the front axle of a vehicle, and

B the.clip, whereby the thill-coupling is secured to the axle. The coupling represented in the drawin gs is of well-known construction and comprises a lower fixed jaw C, which is secured to the under side of the axle and projects forwardly therefrom, a movable upper jaw D, which is hinged to the front end of the fixed jaw, a clamping-lever E, which is arranged underneath the fixed jaw and pivoted to the end of a bent tension-spring F, and a bail or loop G, which connects the lever with the movable jaw. The fixed and movable jaws constitute the draft-eye.

H represents the thill or pole iron, and h the wrist or knuckle of the same. The latter may be of any suitable form, but is preferably approximately spherical and arranged between the side bars h of the thill-iron, as shown. 7

I represents the packing, which surrounds the wrist h, and is seated in corresponding cavities in the .jaws of the draft-eye. The packing corresponds in form with that of the wrist and is, as shown, approximately spherical in form. It is made of a flat piece of hard-oak leather bent and molded by pressure between dies to the required form, with the open joint vi extending along one side, so that this divided or split packing will retain its shape, but can be sprung over the wrist.

The packing is provided in its outer surface midway between its ends with a circumferential groove 70, in which is placed a springbow or divided springclasp L. The latter is sprung into this groove after the packing has been applied to the wrist and holds the pack ing securely on the latter. with its packing, is seated in the closed drafteye, the spring clasp is embedded in the groove'and does not in any way interfere with the working of the parts, particularly since the packing does not turn in the draft-eye, but the wrist turns in the packing as the thill or pole iron rocks up and down. Upon removing the wrist from the draft-eye' the spring-clasp holds the packing securely on thewrist, but is readily sprung off if the pack ing is to be renewed.

The packing is preferably saturated with tallow or some other suitable lubricant.

I prefer to form the packing of a single piece; but,if desired,it maybe madein halves,

as shown in Fig. 5, in which case it has two longitudinal open joints i.

I claim as my invention.

1. The combination with the draft-eye and the draft-wrist, of a divided packing which surroundsthe draft-wrist and which is ad apted to be seated in the cavity of the draft-eye,

When the wrist, v

i i i i i 5 i 2. The combination with the draft-eye and and? narrow; divided spring-clasp which emv tains the packing upon ,the draft-Irish when braces the packing and retains the some on the latter is removed from the draft-eye, subthe drzrfimwristwhen the latter, is removed stantially asset forth.

from the draft-eye, substantiaiiyas set forth. 1 "Witness my hand this 18th day of April;

' I CI-IRISTOPIIER o. BRADLEY.

Witnesses:

JULIE R. JENNEY, EDWARD WILHE'LM;

the draft-Wrist, of a divided packing which surrounds the draft eye and which is pro-'- -videc1inits outer surfacowibh anarrow,"circunlferoizfllaiol groove, and a divided spring- IQ clasp which is seated in said groove and re- 

